NEW recruit Chris Shuker is looking forward to some happier days as a Hartlepool United player after a baptism of fire on Saturday, writes Nick Loughlin.

Shuker moved to Pool on loan from Manchester City on Thursday and made a swift debut at Queen's Park Rangers.

He started on the left wing, with Ritchie Humphreys moving into the middle to replace the suspended Mark Tinkler. Shuker gave a lively performance in the first-half and he was the creater of Pool's early chances.

He admitted: "They are a good side, well organised and strong. It wasn't really an eye opener for me because I had heard a bit about QPR and knew what they were like. We started alright and I thought we were going to do OK and they got one and then another from a corner and there wasn't really anything we could do about that.

"After that I think our heads dropped a little bit and at half-time at 3-0 down it was a little bit hard. But if you look on the bright side we drew the second-half 1-1.

"If we had folded after the second goal then it could have been six or seven, you never know, but we came out and did a lot better.''

Shuker has been told by City boss Kevin Keegan that his contract won't be renewed at the end of the campaign. After a successful loan spell at Rochdale this season he returned to Eastfields but knows his days are numbered.

A move to Pool came after he scored for City reserves last week and he added: "I didn't know any of the lads before I came here.

"I only met the lads on Friday morning when we were travelling down. I met up with them at Ferrybridge and felt a bit strange getting on the coach when they were all on. But they seem like a good set of lads and have helped me fit in.''

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